Power is given to the second beast, the false prophet. He performs great signs that deceive the world into worshipping the beast. He also leads the world to make an image to the beast that speaks and kills people that will not worship it.
John introduces a second terrifying figure in his vision, a third member of the unholy trinity along with the dragon and the beast: Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon (v.11).
The appearance of another beast (v. 11) signals the arrival of a separate yet equally significant power, distinct from the first beast who emerged from the sea (Revelation 13:1). It is likely that this second beast is the same as “the false prophet” referenced in Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10.
The first beast came up out of the sea (Revelation 13:1). This beast is described as coming up out of the earth. In Revelation, “the sea” often portrays the tumultuous chaos of fallen humanity and the nations that it breeds (cf. Daniel 7:2-3). John emphasizes that both beasts have the same source of evil empowerment from the dragon, who is Satan. That this second beast comes up out of the earth is one distinction. The other is that he had two horns like a lamb.
The horns likely represent power, as is typical in scripture. That this false prophet is also a lamb would indicate that he poses as a false image of Jesus. Taking the two together, the horns on a lamb infers that this false prophet is a world religious leader that works in partnership with the beast. Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 5:6, 13:8). This would fit the pattern of the Roman era, where religious and political leaders have routinely formed alliances to perpetuate power.
According to the pictures of Daniel 2, the world will be in a Roman era until God ushers in a new kingdom that is formed apart from human hands (Daniel 2:44). During the early Roman empires, the Caesars merged religious authority with themselves, insisting that they were divine. After Christianity became the official religion of the empire, church leaders routinely engaged to support/legitimize political power.
For example, what is now called the Holy Roman Empire began when the head of the Christian church crowned Charlemagne on Christmas day 800 AD. During the roughly thousand years of this era, which purported an attempt to “holify” the Roman Empire, there was constant interplay between church and political leaders.
It would, therefore, be consistent with the history of the Roman era for this new beast pictured with two horns like a lamb to be a religious leader who serves alongside the other beast who controls the political power. That this second beast comes up out of the earth might also indicate that this is a false prophet who is a religious leader.
The first beast came up out of the sea, which typically represents the chaotic, fallen pool of nations, so would fit a political leader. That this lamb comes from the earth might signal that this is not a political leader. We will get more confirmation that this is the case, as we will see that this false prophet performs signs (Revelation 13:13, 16:13, 19:20) and will cause the world to worship the first beast (Revelation 13:15).
This false lamb could even purport to be Christian; that could be why he is pictured as a lamb, although the Roman era also had substantial pagan influence. So the false lamb could pose in many other ways and still fit within the pattern of the Roman era.
Both the beast and the new beast who will be the false prophet are empowered by and serve the dragon. It might be that the false prophet adopts lamb-like attributes, and mimics external trappings of Christ that lead to an illusion of innocence and care for others. It could be that during the first half of Daniel’s final seven years there is a such an illusion portrayed, that is accompanied by a time of peace and prosperity.
Jesus said the time of “great tribulation” would begin only after the occurrence of an “abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet” (Mathew 24:15). Daniel 9:27 indicates that this abomination will occur in the “middle of the week” meaning three-and-a-half years in, with three-and-a-half years remaining.
This three-and-a-half year time period is the same as the 1,260 days of Revelation 12:6 and the forty-two months of Revelation 11:2, 13:5. Therefore, it could be that the deception of the first half of the seven year period that is the seventieth week of Daniel 9:24-27 allows this false duo to consolidate sufficient power to wreak the havoc and desolation upon the earth during the second half of the seven years, as described in Revelation and Matthew 24.
Jesus Himself warned that false prophets would come “in sheep’s clothing” but inwardly be “ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Jesus predicted that false prophets would be so good at deception that they might even deceive those who are His elect (Matthew 24:24). It could be that the deception is much broader and deeper during this period because many believers have been taken to heaven, having been “caught up together with them in the clouds” prior to this time (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Perhaps this false prophet has provided an explanation for this event along with a deception that fills a spiritual void left by the believers who were “caught up.”
In Mathew 24:24, Jesus was exhorting believers to exercise discernment and beware of false teachers/prophets. As John admonished his followers, believers should test “the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). Worldly rulers and religious figures alike may adopt godly façades while sowing deceit. The second beast’s lamb-like exterior is one of the most dangerous elements of Satan’s arsenal—deception. As Paul asserts, Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).
Yet the disguise is betrayed for those who listen with discernment, because this second beast spoke as a dragon (v.11). The application would be that believers should not be fooled by appearances. This powerful leader looks like a lamb but speaks as a dragon. This means he speaks as Satan.
Satan speaks with cunning and excels at framing what leads to death as being that which leads to life (Genesis 3:1-5). Therefore, it requires that we look underneath what is being said rather than just reacting to the presentation. We should evaluate the “fruit” of teachers to see if they practice what they preach (Luke 6:39, 43-44). And we should listen carefully to what is being said and see if it aligns with what is true (John 17:17).
The Greek verb translated he spoke in the phrase he spoke as a dragon indicates continuous action. It was this false prophet’s repeated pattern to speak as a dragon. This would indicate that the false prophet will speak deceptive lies that lead to destruction and death (John 8:44). He will do this while also creating great spectacles and signs that amaze and deceive (Revelation 13:13, 16:13, 19:20).
Believers this side of the time of “great tribulation” can make application. We should look past impressive rhetoric, external appearance, or even great signs. We should discern both the content, framing, and fruit of one’s teaching, comparing it against Scripture and the testimony of Jesus (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
We next see that this false prophet, the new beast, leads the world to worship the first beast: He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed (v.12).
The second beast channels all the authority of the first beast when the two are together. The first beast received its throne and “great authority” from the dragon (Revelation 13:2). It appears that this second beast gains his authority from being in the presence of the first beast. That would mean that this second beast is also under the dominion of the dragon, who is Satan. The authority of the first beast is authority over every “tribe and people and tongue and nation” (Revelation 13:7). This would indicate that this duo has dominion over both the political and religious spheres of the entire earth.
It appears that the intended aim of the second beast, the false prophet, is to cause the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed (v.12). We saw in Revelation 13:3 that the first beast appeared to have a fatal wound from which he was healed. This could be a wound to him personally, politically, or both.
That the fatal wound that was healed is mentioned here might indicate that the second beast/false prophet appeals to what might be a false resurrection as a rationale for the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast. We also saw in Revelation 13:4 that part of the worship of the first beast was a perception that no one could “wage war with him.” So it seems there is both awe as well as intimidation that leads those not written in the book of life to worship the beast.
We can see that being worshipped is a primary aim of the dragon, who is Satan. That worship has two components: having authority to rule and being submitted to by others, rather than submitting to anyone. Satan’s original fall was because he said “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God” (Isaiah 14:13). He was not content to accept whatever domain had been assigned him by God. He insisted on elevating himself.
We can see that Satan’s aim had not changed millennia later when he tempted Jesus. There he offered Jesus to reign over the entire earth if he would “fall down and worship” him (Matthew 4:8-9). Jesus declined Satan’s temptation, but he did not refute Satan’s authority. Rather, Jesus acknowledged Satan as the “ruler of this world” but said he would be “cast out” when He died for the sins of the world and rose again (John 12:31).
All authority was given to Jesus after He rose (Matthew 28:18). But His authority will not be fully installed until the completion of the events in the scroll of Revelation 5. At this point in Revelation, Satan has been “thrown down” from heaven—so his authority has ended there (Revelation 12:9). Satan, the dragon, has now been given authority for forty-two months, three-and-a-half years (Revelation 13:5). This forty-two months will be what Jesus called a time of “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21).
The reference to the first beast’s fatal wound that was healed might indicate that the false prophet will falsely claim that the first beast is a messiah or even a return of Jesus. It is apparent that the worship of the first beast is global, encompassing everyone who dwells in the earth; the earth and those who dwell in it is comprehensive.
Jesus warned that “false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders” in order to mislead many (Matthew 24:24). The second beast’s activities fulfill that pattern. World history is filled with examples of leaders claiming divinity and demanding to be worshipped. This includes the pharaohs of Egypt and the emperors of Rome. But this worship of the beast is amplified to a global scale. We saw in Revelation 13:8 that everyone in the earth will worship the beast other than those whose names are written in the “book of life of the Lamb.”
The Greek word “poieo” is translated he makes in the phrase he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast. “Poieo” occurs thirty times in Revelation, and generally conveys proactivity. “Poieo” is also translated as He exercises in the phrase, He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.
The next verse indicates that the false prophet’s actions to make others worship the first beast is through great signs. John sees: He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men (v 13).
The Greek word “poieo” also appears twice in verse 13, as he performs and also makes in the phrase even makes fire come down. We can see that this second beast who is the false prophet will proactively promote deception leading to worship of the first beast. In Mark 8:11, the Pharisees challenged Jesus to give them a “sign from heaven.” Perhaps they were thinking of Elijah, who called fire down from heaven (1 Kings 18:38-39). Jesus told them the only sign they would get was the sign of Jonah, which is His resurrection, the greatest sign of all (Matthew 12:39).
It appears that in this section of Revelation, Satan is providing counterfeit signs that check all the boxes. The first beast was healed from a “fatal wound,” apparently mimicking Jesus (Revelation 13:12). The false prophet calls fire down from heaven, apparently mimicking Elijah and satisfying those who called for Jesus to create a “sign from heaven.”
Now, in addition to fear of the first beast’s power (Revelation 13:4), the false prophet is able to perform great signs when in the presence of the first beast. We can speculate that the reason the false prophet only performs these signs in the presence of the first beast is due to his authority being limited. The first beast might desire to concentrate all worship to himself. Perhaps this is because the dragon is operating through the beast and attributes worship of the beast as worship to himself.
The phrase “great signs” conveys acts that appear truly miraculous. This direct call of fire that comes down out of heaven (v. 13) mirrors biblical episodes of divine power. This includes the aforementioned episode of the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 18:38) but also the fire from heaven consuming Solomon’s offering dedicating the temple (2 Chronicles 7:1) and God’s judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24).
John next describes how the second beast performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men (v. 13).
In the Gospel of Mark’s rendition of Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 24, Jesus warns His disciples that in this last time of “great tribulation,”
“false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” (Mark 13:22-23)
This tells us that forces of evil can also perform supernatural events, so we need to be discerning. That Jesus says “I have told you everything in advance” indicates that this is sufficient warning for His followers to be on the alert and avoid being deceived.
The text emphasizes that these great signs happen in the presence of men (v.13). These are public displays designed to persuade and captivate the masses to worship the beast. Such deception underscores that not all miracles are from God; there is a real enemy capable of counterfeiting supernatural phenomena to foster confusion and shift devotion from the Creator to himself.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 tells us that the “mystery of lawlessness” is already at work in the world, but is being restrained, presumably by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the restraint is the Holy Spirit working through believers who are faithful witnesses. 2 Thessalonians 4:17 tells of a time when faithful witnesses will be removed from the earth, meeting Jesus in the air. It could be that after that time, the spirit of lawlessness is no longer held back and dominates the earth.
In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul summarizes much of what is revealed in Revelation, saying that after restraint is removed:
“Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10)
When believers witness remarkable events, Scripture advises us to carefully examine signs and their accompanying prophecies to ensure they align with the truth (1 Thessalonians 5:21). God does not contradict Himself.
Now we are told that the second beast, who is the false prophet, will lead the earth to make an image to the beast as a part of their worship of him: And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life (v. 14).
John makes clear that the signs which it was given him to perform serve a specific purpose, and that is to deceive. The false prophet deceives those who dwell on the earth to worship the beast by making an image to him. Now for the third time the apparent resurrection is mentioned:
In Revelation 13:3 we saw one of the seven “heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed.” This caused the earth to follow him, saying “who can wage war with him?”
Revelation 13:12 mentions the “fatal wound” that “was healed.”
Now in Revelation 13:14, the beast is described as he who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.
Putting these pieces together, it would seem that this leader received what was, or what appeared to be, a fatal wound in battle yet was healed. Perhaps the conclusion “who can make war with him?” is saying “How do you fight against/resist someone who does not die?” We saw earlier that it was this actual or apparent resurrection that caused the one head of seven to be elevated among the others.
This beast is now consolidating all power to himself. Political, legal, military, and religious power are all coming under the reign of this one tyrant.
In verse 12 we were told that the false prophet performs great signs when in the presence of the beast. Verse 14 also mentions that the false prophet performs the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast. This again appears to emphasize the centrality of power being concentrated in the beast. This power is being accumulated through the projection of might (Revelation 13:4) and through the deception of these great wonders.
The expressed purpose of these miraculous signs is to lead humanity astray. This repeats a key theme throughout scripture: the dragon’s greatest weapons are deception and coercive force. As Jesus said, Satan is a murderer and a deceiver by nature (John 8:44). We will see in Revelation 20:7-8 that when Satan is released from prison after a peaceful and prosperous thousand-year reign by Jesus, he is even then able to deceive the world and lead them to war against Jesus.
We can observe parallels between the Holy Spirit and this false prophet. The Holy Spirit only speaks what He is told and glorifies Christ rather than Himself (John 16:13-14). We see here a similar pattern that the false prophet only performs signs in the presence of the beast, glorifying only him. This again mirrors a counterfeit trinity, with the dragon, beast, and false prophet falsely mimicking the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The reference to the wound of the sword might refer to a counterfeit resurrection putting the beast in the place properly assigned to Jesus, the Son, the second person of the true Trinity. This also reminds us that Satan is not a creator. He counterfeits. He twists and contorts. But he is limited to engaging with God’s created order; he is not able to create his own. The false trinity of dragon, beast, and false prophet could be viewed as an ironic and twisted form of flattery to the true Trinity.
The false prophet leads people to make an image to the beast: telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast. This image recalls the ancient practice of erecting statues to honor rulers or deities, such as Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image (Daniel 3:1-7). It appears that old-fashioned pagan idol-worship will make a comeback.
However, this image to the beast will not be just a static idol. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed (v 15).
The him in the phrase And it was given to him refers to the false prophet. The false prophet receives authority (was given to him) to cause the image of the beast to even speak. God allows evil authorities a season of dominion (Job 1:12, Luke 22:53, John 12:31, Revelation 13:5, 7). However, their reign will terminate and they will face judgment (Revelation 19:20). For Christians, this underscores the ever-present tension of living in a world where deceptive powers can flourish for a time.
In verse 14, we are told the false prophet deceived the world into making an image “to the beast.” Now we learn that the image “to the beast” is also an image of the beast.
The Greek word translated image has a number of applications in the New Testament. A few examples follow:
In Matthew 22:20, Mark 12:16 and Luke 20:24, the word applies to the image of Caesar on a coin.
In Romans 1:23 it refers to the image of an idol, a statue that is a false god.
Romans 8:28 uses the word in saying that God will cause all things to conform believers to the image of His Son, Jesus. The idea is that we will become like Him in His service and devotion to the Father and His ways.
Colossians 1:15 calls Jesus the image of “the invisible God.” The idea being that Jesus was God in human form that we could see and better understand.
So while this image might be a statue, it could also take other forms.
In the case of Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image, which was probably also a likeness of himself, he decreed that anyone who did not bow down and worship the golden statue would be thrown into a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:6). This demonstrates his absolute rule and authority.
We can be reminded that Revelation 13 began with images indicating that the kingdom of the beast will be an amalgamation of the kingdoms of men, from Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon to modern Rome (Revelation 13:2). The beast will have Nebuchadnezzar’s authority and hubris, but will also have the vast territory of Persia, the swiftness of Greece, and the ferocity of Rome.
As Nebuchadnezzar had the power to pronounce death on all who did not bow, the false prophet is given the ability to make the statue of the beast to speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. We are not told what the image of the beast says, but it would seem reasonable to presume that it commands people to bow down and threatens them with death if they do not. In doing this it would be executing the same ministerial function as a herald did in Daniel 3:4, instructing the people to bow and worship or die.
This image of the beast is made by “those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 13:14). Perhaps there is a sort of global collection made to raise funds to pay for a single image. Or perhaps there are many images in many places. If the former, then the slaying of those who will not bow to the image would serve as an example; just as with Nebuchadnezzar; the image was in one place and the requirement is “bow down or die.”
In the example of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel, the prophet Daniel was not involved, presumably because he was located elsewhere. So the three Hebrews Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego would have been intended to serve as an example. If there are images all over the earth this could be one of the means by which many believers will be martyred. There also might be a connection between worshipping this image and taking the “mark” of the beast (Revelation 13:16).
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were faced with a choice to bow to the statue or die (Daniel 3:15). They chose to trust God, knowing that He could deliver them, but expressed a willingness to die for their faith if He did not (Daniel 3:16-18). They are great examples of being faithful witnesses who do not fear rejection, loss, or death. This is what Revelation exhorts all believers to become. Many believers in this time of “great tribulation” will make the same choice but will die for their faith. Their deliverance will be in the form of gaining great blessings for their faithfulness (Revelation 1:3, 3:21).
The basic promise of Revelation is that if believers will heed the words of Revelation and be faithful witnesses who do not fear rejection, loss, or death, then they will receive enormous blessings (Revelation 1:3, 3:21). We have seen in Revelation 12 and 13 that God will deliver some while others will be martyred (Revelation 12:6, 16, 13:7). The three Hebrews of Daniel provide an example for us, that we should have the same faith regardless of which outcome we endure.
Believers have the promise that even if the powers of this age kill the body our hope is assured. Revelation tells us that the future will hold great challenges, but we can trust that God is always on His throne—all that occurs is first authorized by God. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego we will likely not know in advance what will be our fate. But Revelation exhorts believers to trust in God regardless.
We know that we are appointed to die at some point (Hebrews 9:27). We just don’t know when. Irrespective of the timing of that day, Revelation exhorts us to live as faithful witnesses, trusting that God’s rewards will more than compensate for any pain, loss, or suffering we endure on His behalf.
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Revelation 13:11-15 meaning
John introduces a second terrifying figure in his vision, a third member of the unholy trinity along with the dragon and the beast: Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon (v.11).
The appearance of another beast (v. 11) signals the arrival of a separate yet equally significant power, distinct from the first beast who emerged from the sea (Revelation 13:1). It is likely that this second beast is the same as “the false prophet” referenced in Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10.
The first beast came up out of the sea (Revelation 13:1). This beast is described as coming up out of the earth. In Revelation, “the sea” often portrays the tumultuous chaos of fallen humanity and the nations that it breeds (cf. Daniel 7:2-3). John emphasizes that both beasts have the same source of evil empowerment from the dragon, who is Satan. That this second beast comes up out of the earth is one distinction. The other is that he had two horns like a lamb.
The horns likely represent power, as is typical in scripture. That this false prophet is also a lamb would indicate that he poses as a false image of Jesus. Taking the two together, the horns on a lamb infers that this false prophet is a world religious leader that works in partnership with the beast. Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 5:6, 13:8). This would fit the pattern of the Roman era, where religious and political leaders have routinely formed alliances to perpetuate power.
According to the pictures of Daniel 2, the world will be in a Roman era until God ushers in a new kingdom that is formed apart from human hands (Daniel 2:44). During the early Roman empires, the Caesars merged religious authority with themselves, insisting that they were divine. After Christianity became the official religion of the empire, church leaders routinely engaged to support/legitimize political power.
For example, what is now called the Holy Roman Empire began when the head of the Christian church crowned Charlemagne on Christmas day 800 AD. During the roughly thousand years of this era, which purported an attempt to “holify” the Roman Empire, there was constant interplay between church and political leaders.
It would, therefore, be consistent with the history of the Roman era for this new beast pictured with two horns like a lamb to be a religious leader who serves alongside the other beast who controls the political power. That this second beast comes up out of the earth might also indicate that this is a false prophet who is a religious leader.
The first beast came up out of the sea, which typically represents the chaotic, fallen pool of nations, so would fit a political leader. That this lamb comes from the earth might signal that this is not a political leader. We will get more confirmation that this is the case, as we will see that this false prophet performs signs (Revelation 13:13, 16:13, 19:20) and will cause the world to worship the first beast (Revelation 13:15).
This false lamb could even purport to be Christian; that could be why he is pictured as a lamb, although the Roman era also had substantial pagan influence. So the false lamb could pose in many other ways and still fit within the pattern of the Roman era.
Both the beast and the new beast who will be the false prophet are empowered by and serve the dragon. It might be that the false prophet adopts lamb-like attributes, and mimics external trappings of Christ that lead to an illusion of innocence and care for others. It could be that during the first half of Daniel’s final seven years there is a such an illusion portrayed, that is accompanied by a time of peace and prosperity.
Jesus said the time of “great tribulation” would begin only after the occurrence of an “abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet” (Mathew 24:15). Daniel 9:27 indicates that this abomination will occur in the “middle of the week” meaning three-and-a-half years in, with three-and-a-half years remaining.
This three-and-a-half year time period is the same as the 1,260 days of Revelation 12:6 and the forty-two months of Revelation 11:2, 13:5. Therefore, it could be that the deception of the first half of the seven year period that is the seventieth week of Daniel 9:24-27 allows this false duo to consolidate sufficient power to wreak the havoc and desolation upon the earth during the second half of the seven years, as described in Revelation and Matthew 24.
Jesus Himself warned that false prophets would come “in sheep’s clothing” but inwardly be “ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Jesus predicted that false prophets would be so good at deception that they might even deceive those who are His elect (Matthew 24:24). It could be that the deception is much broader and deeper during this period because many believers have been taken to heaven, having been “caught up together with them in the clouds” prior to this time (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Perhaps this false prophet has provided an explanation for this event along with a deception that fills a spiritual void left by the believers who were “caught up.”
In Mathew 24:24, Jesus was exhorting believers to exercise discernment and beware of false teachers/prophets. As John admonished his followers, believers should test “the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). Worldly rulers and religious figures alike may adopt godly façades while sowing deceit. The second beast’s lamb-like exterior is one of the most dangerous elements of Satan’s arsenal—deception. As Paul asserts, Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).
Yet the disguise is betrayed for those who listen with discernment, because this second beast spoke as a dragon (v.11). The application would be that believers should not be fooled by appearances. This powerful leader looks like a lamb but speaks as a dragon. This means he speaks as Satan.
Satan speaks with cunning and excels at framing what leads to death as being that which leads to life (Genesis 3:1-5). Therefore, it requires that we look underneath what is being said rather than just reacting to the presentation. We should evaluate the “fruit” of teachers to see if they practice what they preach (Luke 6:39, 43-44). And we should listen carefully to what is being said and see if it aligns with what is true (John 17:17).
The Greek verb translated he spoke in the phrase he spoke as a dragon indicates continuous action. It was this false prophet’s repeated pattern to speak as a dragon. This would indicate that the false prophet will speak deceptive lies that lead to destruction and death (John 8:44). He will do this while also creating great spectacles and signs that amaze and deceive (Revelation 13:13, 16:13, 19:20).
Believers this side of the time of “great tribulation” can make application. We should look past impressive rhetoric, external appearance, or even great signs. We should discern both the content, framing, and fruit of one’s teaching, comparing it against Scripture and the testimony of Jesus (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
We next see that this false prophet, the new beast, leads the world to worship the first beast: He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed (v.12).
The second beast channels all the authority of the first beast when the two are together. The first beast received its throne and “great authority” from the dragon (Revelation 13:2). It appears that this second beast gains his authority from being in the presence of the first beast. That would mean that this second beast is also under the dominion of the dragon, who is Satan. The authority of the first beast is authority over every “tribe and people and tongue and nation” (Revelation 13:7). This would indicate that this duo has dominion over both the political and religious spheres of the entire earth.
It appears that the intended aim of the second beast, the false prophet, is to cause the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed (v.12). We saw in Revelation 13:3 that the first beast appeared to have a fatal wound from which he was healed. This could be a wound to him personally, politically, or both.
That the fatal wound that was healed is mentioned here might indicate that the second beast/false prophet appeals to what might be a false resurrection as a rationale for the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast. We also saw in Revelation 13:4 that part of the worship of the first beast was a perception that no one could “wage war with him.” So it seems there is both awe as well as intimidation that leads those not written in the book of life to worship the beast.
We can see that being worshipped is a primary aim of the dragon, who is Satan. That worship has two components: having authority to rule and being submitted to by others, rather than submitting to anyone. Satan’s original fall was because he said “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God” (Isaiah 14:13). He was not content to accept whatever domain had been assigned him by God. He insisted on elevating himself.
We can see that Satan’s aim had not changed millennia later when he tempted Jesus. There he offered Jesus to reign over the entire earth if he would “fall down and worship” him (Matthew 4:8-9). Jesus declined Satan’s temptation, but he did not refute Satan’s authority. Rather, Jesus acknowledged Satan as the “ruler of this world” but said he would be “cast out” when He died for the sins of the world and rose again (John 12:31).
All authority was given to Jesus after He rose (Matthew 28:18). But His authority will not be fully installed until the completion of the events in the scroll of Revelation 5. At this point in Revelation, Satan has been “thrown down” from heaven—so his authority has ended there (Revelation 12:9). Satan, the dragon, has now been given authority for forty-two months, three-and-a-half years (Revelation 13:5). This forty-two months will be what Jesus called a time of “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21).
The reference to the first beast’s fatal wound that was healed might indicate that the false prophet will falsely claim that the first beast is a messiah or even a return of Jesus. It is apparent that the worship of the first beast is global, encompassing everyone who dwells in the earth; the earth and those who dwell in it is comprehensive.
Jesus warned that “false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders” in order to mislead many (Matthew 24:24). The second beast’s activities fulfill that pattern. World history is filled with examples of leaders claiming divinity and demanding to be worshipped. This includes the pharaohs of Egypt and the emperors of Rome. But this worship of the beast is amplified to a global scale. We saw in Revelation 13:8 that everyone in the earth will worship the beast other than those whose names are written in the “book of life of the Lamb.”
The Greek word “poieo” is translated he makes in the phrase he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast. “Poieo” occurs thirty times in Revelation, and generally conveys proactivity. “Poieo” is also translated as He exercises in the phrase, He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.
The next verse indicates that the false prophet’s actions to make others worship the first beast is through great signs. John sees: He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men (v 13).
The Greek word “poieo” also appears twice in verse 13, as he performs and also makes in the phrase even makes fire come down. We can see that this second beast who is the false prophet will proactively promote deception leading to worship of the first beast. In Mark 8:11, the Pharisees challenged Jesus to give them a “sign from heaven.” Perhaps they were thinking of Elijah, who called fire down from heaven (1 Kings 18:38-39). Jesus told them the only sign they would get was the sign of Jonah, which is His resurrection, the greatest sign of all (Matthew 12:39).
It appears that in this section of Revelation, Satan is providing counterfeit signs that check all the boxes. The first beast was healed from a “fatal wound,” apparently mimicking Jesus (Revelation 13:12). The false prophet calls fire down from heaven, apparently mimicking Elijah and satisfying those who called for Jesus to create a “sign from heaven.”
Now, in addition to fear of the first beast’s power (Revelation 13:4), the false prophet is able to perform great signs when in the presence of the first beast. We can speculate that the reason the false prophet only performs these signs in the presence of the first beast is due to his authority being limited. The first beast might desire to concentrate all worship to himself. Perhaps this is because the dragon is operating through the beast and attributes worship of the beast as worship to himself.
The phrase “great signs” conveys acts that appear truly miraculous. This direct call of fire that comes down out of heaven (v. 13) mirrors biblical episodes of divine power. This includes the aforementioned episode of the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 18:38) but also the fire from heaven consuming Solomon’s offering dedicating the temple (2 Chronicles 7:1) and God’s judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24).
John next describes how the second beast performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men (v. 13).
In the Gospel of Mark’s rendition of Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 24, Jesus warns His disciples that in this last time of “great tribulation,”
“false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.”
(Mark 13:22-23)
This tells us that forces of evil can also perform supernatural events, so we need to be discerning. That Jesus says “I have told you everything in advance” indicates that this is sufficient warning for His followers to be on the alert and avoid being deceived.
The text emphasizes that these great signs happen in the presence of men (v.13). These are public displays designed to persuade and captivate the masses to worship the beast. Such deception underscores that not all miracles are from God; there is a real enemy capable of counterfeiting supernatural phenomena to foster confusion and shift devotion from the Creator to himself.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 tells us that the “mystery of lawlessness” is already at work in the world, but is being restrained, presumably by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the restraint is the Holy Spirit working through believers who are faithful witnesses. 2 Thessalonians 4:17 tells of a time when faithful witnesses will be removed from the earth, meeting Jesus in the air. It could be that after that time, the spirit of lawlessness is no longer held back and dominates the earth.
In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul summarizes much of what is revealed in Revelation, saying that after restraint is removed:
“Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:8-10)
When believers witness remarkable events, Scripture advises us to carefully examine signs and their accompanying prophecies to ensure they align with the truth (1 Thessalonians 5:21). God does not contradict Himself.
Now we are told that the second beast, who is the false prophet, will lead the earth to make an image to the beast as a part of their worship of him: And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life (v. 14).
John makes clear that the signs which it was given him to perform serve a specific purpose, and that is to deceive. The false prophet deceives those who dwell on the earth to worship the beast by making an image to him. Now for the third time the apparent resurrection is mentioned:
Putting these pieces together, it would seem that this leader received what was, or what appeared to be, a fatal wound in battle yet was healed. Perhaps the conclusion “who can make war with him?” is saying “How do you fight against/resist someone who does not die?” We saw earlier that it was this actual or apparent resurrection that caused the one head of seven to be elevated among the others.
This beast is now consolidating all power to himself. Political, legal, military, and religious power are all coming under the reign of this one tyrant.
In verse 12 we were told that the false prophet performs great signs when in the presence of the beast. Verse 14 also mentions that the false prophet performs the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast. This again appears to emphasize the centrality of power being concentrated in the beast. This power is being accumulated through the projection of might (Revelation 13:4) and through the deception of these great wonders.
The expressed purpose of these miraculous signs is to lead humanity astray. This repeats a key theme throughout scripture: the dragon’s greatest weapons are deception and coercive force. As Jesus said, Satan is a murderer and a deceiver by nature (John 8:44). We will see in Revelation 20:7-8 that when Satan is released from prison after a peaceful and prosperous thousand-year reign by Jesus, he is even then able to deceive the world and lead them to war against Jesus.
We can observe parallels between the Holy Spirit and this false prophet. The Holy Spirit only speaks what He is told and glorifies Christ rather than Himself (John 16:13-14). We see here a similar pattern that the false prophet only performs signs in the presence of the beast, glorifying only him. This again mirrors a counterfeit trinity, with the dragon, beast, and false prophet falsely mimicking the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The reference to the wound of the sword might refer to a counterfeit resurrection putting the beast in the place properly assigned to Jesus, the Son, the second person of the true Trinity. This also reminds us that Satan is not a creator. He counterfeits. He twists and contorts. But he is limited to engaging with God’s created order; he is not able to create his own. The false trinity of dragon, beast, and false prophet could be viewed as an ironic and twisted form of flattery to the true Trinity.
The false prophet leads people to make an image to the beast: telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast. This image recalls the ancient practice of erecting statues to honor rulers or deities, such as Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image (Daniel 3:1-7). It appears that old-fashioned pagan idol-worship will make a comeback.
However, this image to the beast will not be just a static idol. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed (v 15).
The him in the phrase And it was given to him refers to the false prophet. The false prophet receives authority (was given to him) to cause the image of the beast to even speak. God allows evil authorities a season of dominion (Job 1:12, Luke 22:53, John 12:31, Revelation 13:5, 7). However, their reign will terminate and they will face judgment (Revelation 19:20). For Christians, this underscores the ever-present tension of living in a world where deceptive powers can flourish for a time.
In verse 14, we are told the false prophet deceived the world into making an image “to the beast.” Now we learn that the image “to the beast” is also an image of the beast.
The Greek word translated image has a number of applications in the New Testament. A few examples follow:
So while this image might be a statue, it could also take other forms.
In the case of Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image, which was probably also a likeness of himself, he decreed that anyone who did not bow down and worship the golden statue would be thrown into a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:6). This demonstrates his absolute rule and authority.
We can be reminded that Revelation 13 began with images indicating that the kingdom of the beast will be an amalgamation of the kingdoms of men, from Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon to modern Rome (Revelation 13:2). The beast will have Nebuchadnezzar’s authority and hubris, but will also have the vast territory of Persia, the swiftness of Greece, and the ferocity of Rome.
As Nebuchadnezzar had the power to pronounce death on all who did not bow, the false prophet is given the ability to make the statue of the beast to speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. We are not told what the image of the beast says, but it would seem reasonable to presume that it commands people to bow down and threatens them with death if they do not. In doing this it would be executing the same ministerial function as a herald did in Daniel 3:4, instructing the people to bow and worship or die.
This image of the beast is made by “those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 13:14). Perhaps there is a sort of global collection made to raise funds to pay for a single image. Or perhaps there are many images in many places. If the former, then the slaying of those who will not bow to the image would serve as an example; just as with Nebuchadnezzar; the image was in one place and the requirement is “bow down or die.”
In the example of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel, the prophet Daniel was not involved, presumably because he was located elsewhere. So the three Hebrews Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego would have been intended to serve as an example. If there are images all over the earth this could be one of the means by which many believers will be martyred. There also might be a connection between worshipping this image and taking the “mark” of the beast (Revelation 13:16).
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were faced with a choice to bow to the statue or die (Daniel 3:15). They chose to trust God, knowing that He could deliver them, but expressed a willingness to die for their faith if He did not (Daniel 3:16-18). They are great examples of being faithful witnesses who do not fear rejection, loss, or death. This is what Revelation exhorts all believers to become. Many believers in this time of “great tribulation” will make the same choice but will die for their faith. Their deliverance will be in the form of gaining great blessings for their faithfulness (Revelation 1:3, 3:21).
The basic promise of Revelation is that if believers will heed the words of Revelation and be faithful witnesses who do not fear rejection, loss, or death, then they will receive enormous blessings (Revelation 1:3, 3:21). We have seen in Revelation 12 and 13 that God will deliver some while others will be martyred (Revelation 12:6, 16, 13:7). The three Hebrews of Daniel provide an example for us, that we should have the same faith regardless of which outcome we endure.
Believers have the promise that even if the powers of this age kill the body our hope is assured. Revelation tells us that the future will hold great challenges, but we can trust that God is always on His throne—all that occurs is first authorized by God. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego we will likely not know in advance what will be our fate. But Revelation exhorts believers to trust in God regardless.
We know that we are appointed to die at some point (Hebrews 9:27). We just don’t know when. Irrespective of the timing of that day, Revelation exhorts us to live as faithful witnesses, trusting that God’s rewards will more than compensate for any pain, loss, or suffering we endure on His behalf.